Crank.



' v. UNITED ES P TEN OFFI ELMER o. oLso v, or RADCLIFFE, IOWA.

v VVCRYANIQK.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELMER O. OLSON, a citizen of the United; States, residing at Radcliffe, infthe county of Hardin, State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cranks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. 7

This invention relates to starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, and has for itsprimary ob ect to provide a simple and improved device for cranking or rotating the engine shaft and obviating the danger of injury to the crank operator due to back-firing of the engine during the cranking operation.

A further object of the invention isto provide a device of this character Which employs relatively fragile pins for establishing connection between the starting crank and engine shaft, and wherein improved means is employed for properly accommodating thepins, and wherein the latter may be quickly and easily replaced after having been broken by back-firing of the engine.

A still further and particular object of the invention is to provide a device ofthis character and for the purposes set forth which is of simple and inexpensive construction, which is composedof but few parts, all so arranged and constructed as to pre vent wear, breakage, or derangement of the said parts, which is easily assembled, which is positive and reliable in operation, "and which will prove thoroughlyeflicient in the attainment of the ends for which it is designed.

With these obiects in view, together with others which willappear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings and particularly pointed out in the claim. v

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings,

wherein: a a

Figure 1, is a fragmentary plan view of a motor vehicle of conventional form and illustrating the application of a starting mechanism embodying the invention. Fig. 2, is a sectional View taken through the cranking device and a portion of the engine edges of the disk 11.

I Specification of Letters Patent. Q61]. 24, 1916. ,7 Application filed May 5', 1916; Serial No. 95,688. i

shaft, Fig. 3, is sectional view taken on line 38 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4:, is a sectional view taken on line 4'4 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the The end of the crank or engine shaft is indicated at 6, and 7 indicatesthe knobsor lugs on the forward'extremity of the said shaft to be engaged by a clutch member '8 on the inner end of the cranking shaft to impart rotary movement to the crank shaft ofthe motor; a 3

I The cranking or starting shaft in the present instance is formed in sections, the innermost section being indicated at 9 and the outer section at 10, the adjacent ends of the said sections being axially alined as shown. The innermost end of the inner section 9 equipped with the clutch head 8, while the opposite end has secured thereto a disk 11. The outermost section 10 of the starting shaft is mounted for rotation in the bearings 12, and is equipped at its innermost end with a disk 13 of substantially greater diameter than the disk 11. The periphery of the disk 13 is toothed as at 14, and a pawl 15 is pivoted upon the frame 5 and is engaged with the ratchet teeth 14 of the said disk to prevent retrograde movement of the said disk.

Arms 16 are secured to the inner face of the disk 13 at diametrically opposite points thereon, and extend inwardly and over the The outer extremities of'the arms 16 are provided with apertures,

the disk 13 being also provided with apertures 17 alined with the arm apertures. The

disk 11 is provided adjacent its edges with spaced openings 18 which are adapted to aline with the apertures of the disk 13 and arms 16. Pegs or pins 19, formed preferably of wood, are adapted for insertion through the apertures of the disks and arms 16, and it is apparent that when thus arranged rotation of the outer section of the starting shaft 10 by the crank 20 will simultaneously rotate the innermost section 9 of thestarting shaft. When the clutch head 8 is engaged with the crank shaft 6 of the motor the rotary movement of the sectional starting shaft will be imparted to the engine shaft. Should the latter be rotated in a counter clockwise direction, such as is often caused by back-firing of the motor, the disk 13 will be held by the pawl15 against reverse movement, and the pegs or pins 19,

which are of relatively fragile construction,

will be broken and the shaft 6 permitted to rotate free of the starting shaft.

ily break should the shaft turn in a reverse directionwhen the disk ligis locked against rotation. The simplified construction perv mits of the pins19being readily inserted between the disks when it is desired that a positive connection be made between the sections of the said starting shaft.

While I have herein shown and described a particular or preferred, embodiment of the invention, I wish itto be understood that I need not confine myselftoall the precise details of construction herein set forth by way of illustration as modification and variation It is thus seen that danger of 1n ury. to the crank 013,-

may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claim appended hereto.

What is claimed is: In a device of the class described, the combination with an engine shaft, of a sectional starting shaft axially alined with the engine shaft, means for connecting the adjacent end of the starting shaft with the crank shaft, disks secured to the adjacent ends of the sectional starting shaft, arms on one of said disks overlying the edges of the other disk,

in the presence of two witnesses.

ELMER o. OLSON.

Witnesses:

M. G. BENSON O. F. OLSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0.? 

